Player Discussion: Heinola Thread

[surixon]

Wow, interesting contradiction in viewing the games!

Thanks for both of the opinions....

Don't get me wrong he still has a lot to learn but he's starting to build a foundation that can be trusted and you hopefully will then see other elements get added to his game.

 

[garret9]

His supporters vastly overrate him. He took a terribly lazy penalty last game and looked under duress nearly every shift. Haven't seen him doing anything to suggest he's an NHL player. Heinola = Niku

Heinola and Niku don't even play a similar game... and while I'm starting to drop Heinola's ceiling, he's still much ahead of Niku in terms of NHL performance

 

[Jet]

His supporters vastly overrate him. He took a terribly lazy penalty last game and looked under duress nearly every shift. Haven't seen him doing anything to suggest he's an NHL player. Heinola = Niku

I've been one of the biggest critics of Heinola and I've seen a big improvement game over game.

At this point I'd have him in over Samberg. He really seemed to have gained some confidence and his passing and decision making in his zone was a strength.

 

[ps241]

Away in Mexico so I have been missing all the games lately. Glad to hear Ville is settling in. Always want the assets to turn out.

 

[BoneDocUK]

Away in Mexico so I have been missing all the games lately. Glad to hear Ville is settling in. Always want the assets to turn out.

This, for me, is the main thing.

Prospects are fun -- all the anticipation of greatness -- or even goodness -- with a decent window before reality sinks in.

And sometimes, as with 55, 37, Ehlers, KFC, Morrissey, Perfetti, and even Copp, Lowry, etc., that reality ends up driving the team.

 

[ps241]

This, for me, is the main thing.

Prospects are fun -- all the anticipation of greatness -- or even goodness -- with a decent window before reality sinks in.

And sometimes, as with 55, 37, Ehlers, KFC, Morrissey, Perfetti, and even Copp, Lowry, etc., that reality ends up driving the team.

Yea I wish it would have clicked for Ville earlier but if he finds a spot now its definitely a good thing. Its the same for any prospect on our team. I may get frustrated or may second guess the draft choice but make no mistake I always want every draft pick to work out. I badly want to be wrong when I am skeptical of an asset.

 

[Channelcat]

This guy is here for good

 

[DannyGallivan]

Yea I wish it would have clicked for Ville earlier but if he finds a spot now its definitely a good thing. Its the same for any prospect on our team. I may get frustrated or may second guess the draft choice but make no mistake I always want every draft pick to work out. I badly want to be wrong when I am skeptical of an asset.

He deserved all the criticism, just as he deserves credit for perhaps his best game in the bigs against Calgary tonight.

 

[Joe Hallenback]

Another solid game from him tonight. Thought he and Samberg were both very good together. You can tell they played together

Smart decisions all over the ice no "weak" physical plays. He might just get it under Bones. Going to force the Jets hand I think

 

[GNP]

I've been one of the biggest critics of Heinola and I've seen a big improvement game over game.

At this point I'd have him in over Samberg. He really seemed to have gained some confidence and his passing and decision making in his zone was a strength.

I've also been one of the biggest critics of Heinola, but I have to say he's playing with confidence out there, and some grit, and sure makes some nice passes. Had a nice slapper from the point to set up the winning goal for Gagne, vs the Flames tonight. Hope he keeps playing like this, and I'll be glad to eat some crow.

 

[kanadalainen]

He played great this evening. Solid D - was getting his face rubbed, continuously bumped after the play etc by Calgary - no worries.

 

[Adam da bomb]

Heinola played great but how can he not get sent down when Schmidt gets back he is the only one eligible and you can’t get rid of needed defensive depth.

 

[garret9]

Heinola played great but how can he not get sent down when Schmidt gets back he is the only one eligible and you can’t get rid of needed defensive depth.

Does anyone really need Capo?

 

[Adam da bomb]

Does anyone really need Capo?

Yes I think he is better than bitteto and depth players like Schenn get a 2nd come playoff time.

 

[garret9]

I've been one of the biggest critics of Heinola and I've seen a big improvement game over game.

At this point I'd have him in over Samberg. He really seemed to have gained some confidence and his passing and decision making in his zone was a strength.

I'm not sure I have Heinola overall this season as above Samberg, but recently has definitely been the case. His ceiling is looking a bit better recently.

Yes I think he is better than bitteto and depth players like Schenn get a 2nd come playoff time.

Fair, lol, and don't disagree

 

[Tom ServoMST3K]

Yea I wish it would have clicked for Ville earlier but if he finds a spot now its definitely a good thing. Its the same for any prospect on our team. I may get frustrated or may second guess the draft choice but make no mistake I always want every draft pick to work out. I badly want to be wrong when I am skeptical of an asset.

The pandemic and bouncing leagues probably set him back a little bit.

 

[surixon]

I'm not sure I have Heinola overall this season as above Samberg, but recently has definitely been the case. His ceiling is looking a bit better recently.

Fair, lol, and don't disagree

He just needs to continie to get comfortable imo. I still think he's a good bet to be a good puck moving top 4 dmen. Maybe not first pairing but a good second pairing guy is good value from pick 20.

 

[DeepFrickinValue]

Heinola played great but how can he not get sent down when Schmidt gets back he is the only one eligible and you can’t get rid of needed defensive depth.

Maybe they keep Schmidt out a few precautionary games longer.

 

[voyageur]

Heinola played great but how can he not get sent down when Schmidt gets back he is the only one eligible and you can’t get rid of needed defensive depth.

After Harkins is officially demoted the roster will be at 22 players including Perfetti. Schmidt coming back doesn't send anyone down. It's when Ehlers comes back that someone has to be demoted, and that player could just as easily be Eyssimont or Reichel.

I'd expect Ville to stay with the club until Maenalanen or Wheeler are ready to return. And who knows if the Jets stay healthy between now and then? He's going to get some chances to play, he may also sit for a stretch. At this point he's still not better than any of the top 5, but now the margin between some of those guys is narrowing, which is how you want him to develop. However, when you see Samberg out there killing penalties on the 1st unit with Brendon Dillon in the box, that's a role he can't fill on this team. However in a 7 d alignment I think you could easily get him 12 minutes a night, and rest Josh Norrissey a bit. The more confidently he is playing, the more comfortable I'd be sitting out Morrissey for a couple of weeks to get healthier. But the Jets aren't quite at the point where they can take their position in the standings as safe.

 

[Benjamin Doveridge]

However in a 7 d alignment I think you could easily get him 12 minutes a night, and rest Josh Norrissey a bit. The more confidently he is playing, the more comfortable I'd be sitting out Morrissey for a couple of weeks to get healthier. But the Jets aren't quite at the point where they can take their position in the standings as safe.

You want to sit Morrissey out for a few weeks?!?!

 

[Adam da bomb]

After Harkins is officially demoted the roster will be at 22 players including Perfetti. Schmidt coming back doesn't send anyone down. It's when Ehlers comes back that someone has to be demoted, and that player could just as easily be Eyssimont or Reichel.

I'd expect Ville to stay with the club until Maenalanen or Wheeler are ready to return. And who knows if the Jets stay healthy between now and then? He's going to get some chances to play, he may also sit for a stretch. At this point he's still not better than any of the top 5, but now the margin between some of those guys is narrowing, which is how you want him to develop. However, when you see Samberg out there killing penalties on the 1st unit with Brendon Dillon in the box, that's a role he can't fill on this team. However in a 7 d alignment I think you could easily get him 12 minutes a night, and rest Josh Norrissey a bit. The more confidently he is playing, the more comfortable I'd be sitting out Morrissey for a couple of weeks to get healthier. But the Jets aren't quite at the point where they can take their position in the standings as safe.

I really don’t see what the big deal with sending Heinola down and playing him top minutes. I do see a problem with sitting young players.

 

[surixon]

You want to sit Morrissey out for a few weeks?!?!

If it leads to him being 100% after then yes I would be in favor of it. He's clearly playing injured right now.

 

[CorgisPer60]

I really don’t see what the big deal with sending Heinola down and playing him top minutes. I do see a problem with sitting young players.

More minutes isn't going to mean anything if he's already been dominating the lower leagues. He needs to play against better competition to elevate his game and learn what he can and can't do in the NHL. He needs to be playing minutes in the NHL. I'd rather him playing 14 minutes a night here then 22 minutes a night in the AHL. I also don't have a problem with scratching a player if they are obviously struggling. I have a problem with scratching a player because of circumstance like having too many players and not enough space. Having depth is fine, but your young prospects and players need to be the drivers.

 

[BoneDocUK]

He played great this evening. Solid D - was getting his face rubbed, continuously bumped after the play etc by Calgary - no worries.

Yep. They were givin 'er the ol' Perfetti / new kid on the block treatment all night long but it didn't seem to knock him off his game.

I think the play that kicked off the Gagner goal is a good example of his learning curve in the show -- steps in on the Flame to break up the play and release the puck, then moves up ice and shifts into position to take the pass from Sammy ** Presumptive Hockey Name ** and lets the one-timer go with some speed -- and even without the tip that one was heading top corner. Sam - Ville - Sam for the GWG.

It was a smart, confident play in the D zone to win a puck that then puts him in a position to Heinola away in the O zone, where he's perfectly at home, and that part of the project is something he's needed to work on.

Still plenty of things to get right, but def an encouraging string of games now and should provide a solid base for future dev.

 

[DRW204]

wonder what happens when healthy

morrissey-demelo stay together
id go schmidt-dillon - those two rate quite well together the last 2 years. pionk with dillon has just rated too poor defensively for my taste. and the offense doesn't make up for it. im all around kinda over watching pionk try and defend in a top-4 role.

ill admit though: this was my top-4 in the summer. and call it bias or whatever, but think this is the best combo of our top-2 pairings we've iced so far.

samberg although has struggled this year does have experience and chemistry with heinola. heinola-pionk might be to chaotic in our own zone although it would only be 3rd pair so least-consequential of the 3 pairings. Pionk likely stays in the line-up because vet and $$$.

then there's stanley who is probably another 7-10 days away from skating (based on 2 week time period on Dec 29th). he's only played a few games, but his recent games i thought he was solid after a slower start.